Sayville's Chris Belcher wins 55 meters in record time

Throughout the course of a race, the littlest things can sometimes make the biggest difference. This can be especially true during a sprint as short as the 55 meters. A sudden wrong movement or momentary slip can throw off an entire race.

But in the same way that a seemingly insignificant occurrence can break a race, a savvy late movement can make one.

For Sayville's Chris Belcher, a late lean over the finish line made all the difference in his 55-meters victory at the Millrose Games Saturday at the Armory in Manhattan. Belcher finished in 6.43 seconds, breaking the Millrose Games record of 6.46, set last year by Wayne Gordon of Amherst Sweet Home High School.

Belcher's lean helped him narrowly beat Niager Mathis of Swenson, Pa., who came in second, finishing in 6.44.

"I actually thought I had lost," Belcher said. "I didn't have the best start in the world. I almost stumbled coming out of the blocks. Near the end, I saw the kid in lane eight almost get there. But I turned around and saw 'Belcher' on the board and got really happy."

The senior credits his victory to that final forward thrust.

"Without that lean, I don't think I would have won this race," he said. "That's all I was thinking at the end: 'The lean is the last shot.' "

The motion may be slight, but it takes both skill and practice.

"I used to not be able to lean, but now it comes natural," Belcher said. "You have to throw your whole body down there at the end of the race."

The way Belcher sees it, his victory is not only the new career headline, but a major victory for his entire program.

"We don't have a big track program," he said. "Hopefully, I'm bumping it up a little to make track in our community a little more popular."

He also was proud to represent L.I. Belcher was the only L.I. competitor in the race.

"We don't really get noticed as much as the city kids," Belcher said. "I'm glad the focus is on Long Island."

While Belcher was all alone on the spacious Armory track, the Kellenberg relay team had each other to lean on. The Firebirds, composed of Danielle Correia, Bridget McNierney, Dorie Eruilus and Jazmine Fray, won the John P. Prendergast CHSAA sprint medley relay in 4:06.80.

McNierney started the race and ran the 400-meter leg in 59.8 seconds, according to coach Marty Brown.

"I knew that I had to get out fast because I knew that I had some very good competition," McNierney said.

When McNierney handed off the baton, Kellenberg still had three quarters of the race left to run. This puts her in an interesting position -- having to watch a race that she is very much a part of.

"There's a little bit of anxiety," she said. "But I know I have very talented teammates that can hold on to the lead."

The race McNierney started ended with a victory lap of sorts for sophomore Fray.

Fray ran a 2:12.8 anchor leg, one in which she coasted down the final straightaway.

"It was great," she said of the event. "My coach is always talking about it and how exciting it is to compete. It was just exciting."

St. John the Baptist came in second, running a 4:11.51.

St. Anthony's won the boys CHSAA 4 x 200 relay. The team, made up of Sebastian Pierre, Brad Monegro, Marlon Montague, and Mozai Nelson, finished in 1:30.18.